Department of Pediatrics
Division of Community
Health and Research
Car crashes are the leading cause of death for children
Properly used child restraints dramatically reduce injury
Only 43% of booster-size children travel in booster seats
The "Boost 'em in the Back Seat " video and the information contained on this site will help you understand the importance of using booster seats.
Boost 'em in the Back Seat is a six-minute empirically-supported threat appeal video that delivers preventive messages about the importance of booster seat and rear seat use to parents. Thirty-second versions of the video are also available for free download and use as public service announcements.
The high-threat content of the video motivates by evoking a sense of vulnerability to motor vehicle hazards, and its high-efficacy content provides caregivers with the knowledge to protect one's family from motor vehicle risks. By using a threat appeal approach (without gore), the video represents a unique and innovative methodology in child occupant protection, as most programs are primarily informational in nature.
Previous research has shown the video-intervention program to significantly increase caregivers' child passenger safety knowledge, risk-reduction attitudes, and perceptions of fear and efficacy. Also, the video intervention program resulted in a 16% increase in booster seat use.
Following this promising research, this website was developed with funding from the Virginia Highway Safety Office to provide a means for easily disseminating the video (yes, it is free!) to parents and professionals.